Toddlers, Part 2

 

My dude, firm no. You have your own teeth to touch. Don't reach into someone's mouth - that is uncouth. And unsanitary, for both parties. And yes, I'm quoting that American Idol judge here. I feel like I quote him a lot when my toddler requests things that are just nope.

Text:
O: Wanna touch your teeth!
L: It's a no from me.

Toddlers, Part 1

 

This week, I'm gonna share some things my toddler has been saying because wow, it's wild how a two-year-old processes the world. Today focuses on a conversation/argument my kids had that was basically this but everything repeated a bunch of times. And it was in the car. It was equal parts amusing and frustrating, and nothing substantial was ever said.

Text:
O: Why? WHY??
R: Why what?
O: Yes and no, yes AND no. 

Gnats vs Orioles

 

In my general area, there are two baseball teams - the Nationals (called the Nats) and the Orioles (called the O's). That's all I have to say because I don't follow baseball and can't think of any more baseball things.

Explanation: Gnats sounds like Nats, and the Nats are a team that play the Orioles.

Text:
M: The gnats are attacking me!
L: It's because you're wearing an Oriole's hat.

Due Any Day

 

A throwback, but a True Story. Over four years ago, I was at an Ikea doing some last minute shopping (with my husband because I was only up for walking about, not moving things) before my firstborn made her appearance, and someone commented and I just had to respond because yep. 

Text:
Title: *On a Saturday*
Rando: Wow, you look like you're due any day now!
L: Yep, Tuesday.
Rando: Wait, really?!

Barn Raiser vs Razer

 

Magna-Tiles are a great, creative toy but also easy to topple and make such a fun noise as they all come crashing down. 

Explanation: A barn raiser is one who builds a barn. A razer is one who destroys. 

Text:
M: With the Magna-Tiles, my preschooler is a barn raiser. My toddler, however, is a barn razer. 

White Red Blue

Why do we say things in specific orders when it really shouldn't make a difference what order they are? It's like saying Paper, Scissors, Rock. Yon and hither? Blue and black? 

Text:
R: My shirt is blue and white and red.
L: That's not the usual order we say those colors.

Pensacola

 

I finally made a new travel comic page! I have done five of my trips in the past, and this is the sixth entry. Here's a list of the previous trips - you should be able to find them by searching the "travel comic blog" on my site but I should come up with a better way to collate them:

Germany and Switzerland 1 | Germany and Switzerland 2 | Germany and Switzerland 3 | Germany and Switzerland 4

Great Dismal Swamp 1 | Great Dismal Swamp 2

Nebraska 1 | Nebraska 2 | Nebraska 3 | Nebraska 4

Canada 1 | Canada 2

Utah 1 | Utah 2

We had a great time in Pensacola seeing my youngest sibling graduate - the next family member set to graduate is my niece on my husband's side (she's only a few years younger than my brother). 

Here's some photos that are drawn in this comic:

Toddler Sickness Teamup

 

Thankfully, at the time of scheduling (unlike at the time of writing), my house is free of colds. Let's hope that's still true when this comic is live. I would say free of sickness but that's not really true ever if you have young kids. 

Text:
A: Has Robin fought off her cold?
L: No, the little traitor joined forces with it, *sniffle* conscripted her brother, *cough* and is waging war on our household. *SNEEZE*

So Mushroom on this Path

 

Haha, because mushrooms have gills. It was a feat to guide my kids around all the mushrooms so they didn't stomp on one and inhale the spores. 

The path in the above comic:

Text:
R: And another one! And ANOTHER one!
L: This walking path is stuffed to the gills with mushrooms.
O: nother one!

Want Down

 

At least he's honest? But yeah the struggle is real here. The same thing happens when he's in the grocery cart and wants to get down and I ask if he's gonna stay with Mom if I let him down and he's like "no." Maybe someday I will be up for drawing a grocery cart. Maybe. 

Text:
O: Want down!!!
L: Will you make wise choices?
O: No.
L: Well then, it's a no from me. 

Praying Monks, Living Fools

 

It is a good book, even if I can't ever remember the right order of the title. 

Text:
Title: "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools" by Tyler Staton
L: I read a great book called "living like prayer, monking like fools." No, "fooling like prayer, living" - nope, um. There's fools, monks, prayer, and living. You should read it.

Orange Tea

 

Happy Juneteenth to all - remember that it's a Federal holiday and some places might be closed today so check the shops before heading out. My kids' tea shop may or may not be open - it totally depends on their whims. Getting a tea set was an excellent buy for our household. Both kids like to take turns being the shop keeper and serving out tea with cream and sugar. 

Explanation: Black and green are types of tea leaves and also colors. Orange is a flavor of herbal tea (technically could have orange flavoring in any of the types) and also a color. So many colors of tea. 

Text:
Title: Playing Tea Shop
L: Would you like black or green tea, or herbal?
R: Umm, orange please.
L: That is valid, but possibly not how you think. 

Private Sergeant

 

It must be the way to the opposite of an officer's lounge. We were at a garden when we saw this, but you never know?

Whoops, I accidentally scheduled this for last Thursday, but here it is again when it was supposed to post. Oh well.

Explanation: "Private" can mean "not for public" but also it is a military rank. 

Text:
R: What does the sign on that door say?
M: Private.
R: What does that mean?
L: Not a sergeant.

Gift From Children

Happy Father's Day! I hope your kids got you a good gift, not something viral. 

Text:
A: You should do something to get rid of your lingering cold.
M: But *sniffle* it was a gift *sneeze* from my children *COUGH cough COUGH*

Squirrel on the Fence

 

My kiddos really like seeing the wildlife in our backyard. Currently we have a bunny that sleeps in the shade of a swing in the afternoons. One time, my little guy pointed out a "big bird, Mom!" and yep there was a hawk chilling on our fence. The bunny was not around at that point, for good reason. 

Explanation: "On the fence" is a phrase that means you're undecided about something. But sometimes things can literally be on a fence. And being literally on a fence can show that you're undecided about coming into a yard. 

Text:
O: SQUIRREL!!!
L: Will he come in the yard? He seems on the fence about it.
M: *GROAN*

Private Sergeant

It must be the way to the opposite of an officer's lounge. We were at a garden when we saw this, but you never know?

Explanation: "Private" can mean "not for public" but also it is a military rank. 

Text:
R: What does the sign on that door say?
M: Private.
R: What does that mean?
L: Not a sergeant.

Sibling Logic - Preschooler Edition

 

We have a cute wooden puzzle with sea critters and I overheard my kids doing the puzzle and thought "well that's a nice way of correcting your little brother." The piece in question was either the jellyfish or the squid. 

Text:
Title: Doing a Sea Critter Puzzle
O: Get octopus!
R: That looks like an octopus but it's pretty different. 

Charge at Cash

You never know when you'll need your rapier so always be prepared? Pocket knives just don't have the same gravitas.

Explanation: "Charge" can mean "rush forward" or "put it on my credit card" and only one of those is technically allowed in a cash-only business. 

Text:
A: CHARGE!
B: Sorry, we are cash only. 

Whine in the Woods

 

Turns out that sign was left up after the fact and Wine in the Woods was a few weekends ago (not that I care because I'm not a fan of wine, or whine). 

Text:
L: Wine in the Woods is this weekend.
M: We have whine with us wherever we go.
R&O: DAD Dad Dad DAD Dad Dad Dad DAD Dad Dad Dad

Yachts of Money

What else do you do with boatloads of money, but buy a crazy expensive boat?

Explanation: "yacht" and "lot" can sound quite similar, depending on your accent. 

Text:
A: How much money is in your bank account?
$: Boatloads.
A: So like, a yacht?

Finder of Things

 

Life lessons to a preschooler.

Additional life lesson: If you can breathe through both nostrils, thank God for not being congested. It's so obnoxious. Maybe by the time this scheduled post is live, I will regain said ability. 

Text:
R: I can't find it!
L: Did you look next to your feet?
R: Oh, there it is!
L: When you can't find a thing, a helpful thing to do is look for it.

Stay In Your Lane

 

After my preschooler saw them painting lines on a road between us and the library, every time we went on that road she told me about how they painted it that one time and how we needed to avoid the orange cones (that were no longer there). 

Can we make this a new version of "stay in your lane"? Like, someone is giving advice that they aren't skilled enough to give and you just say "they're painting the lines on the road of *said skill*."

Text:
A: They're painting the lines on Montgomery Road today.
B: Why are you telling me this?
A: Stay in your lane, bro.

My Chaos Monster

 

I feel the need to add that the name Persephone can mean "Chaos Bringer" and while that's not my kid's name, it's slightly relevant.

Currently (while scheduling this) I have a cut on my fingertip and it's annoying to type so I'm going to be keeping these notes short.

Text:
L: Buddy, you are so chaotic.
O: No, I'm Ori. 

Rouxing Dinner

 

Roux is "a mixture of fat (especially butter) and flour used in making sauces" per Google’s English dictionary, which is provided by Oxford Languages. It's pronounced /ro͞o/ so therefore "rouxining" would be pronounced like "ruining." And "oui oui" is "yes yes" in French, pronounced like "we we." 

Text:
L: Why did you add flour to the melting butter?!? You're roux-ining dinner!!!
M: Oui oui.

Jira Opportunities

It's actually "Work Item" instead of "Issue" but I like my version better. What Jira Opportunities are you working on today? 

Explanation: Jira is a type of program management software, which is something that teams can use to track what they're creating or fixing, and individual items in there were called Issues but now they're called Work Items. I've heard plenty of quotes about seeing issues as opportunities, to get you to reframe your mindset about a situation. 

Text:
M: Jira is rebranding, so now Jira Issues is - 
L: Jira Opportunities? 

Get the Ball

 

True Story. I thought it had rolled under something or was lost but nope, just being held by little brother.

Text:
R: Can you help me get the purple ball?
L: Sure, where is it?
R: In Ori's hand.

Season with Grace and Salt

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." - Colossians 4:6, ESV

Text:

H: Could we branch out and try some new seasonings? *holding a carton of Old Bay*
W: *gasp* We season with salt and grace in this house!

Leaving Leaves

 

Happy Birthday to my grandma and two of my nieces! 
Oh, the English language. Those leaves are leaving, as they do. Is this a comic from the wrong season? Nope, my kids have been collecting leaves from the edges of our yard and piling them on the patio, only for the wind to clear them away. 

Text:
R: Nooooo - the wind is blowing away our pile!!!
L: That is the way of leaves - they leave.

Tea Mail

 

I've been getting loose leaf tea from Plum Deluxe and they have an excellent selection and quality of teas. My daughter's confusion over getting tea in the mail was quite cute and she was laughing quite a bit, picturing a mug of tea in the mailbox. 

Text:
L: *sees notification on phone* Let's get the mail because my tea has arrived.
R: You have a cup of tea in the mailbox?!?!

Stuck Stick

 

Happy Mother's Day! You never know what you'll need to tell your kids next. Did not think I'd be instructing my two-year-old to not uproot trees, yet here we are. He was trying with all his might to get that stick.

Text:
O: Stick STUCK!!!
L: That's a baby tree, buddy. Don't uproot the sapling. 

Bingo Card Full

Congrats to the college graduates, especially my youngest brother! Woohoo! 

I read a text image by thisone0verhere and I just had to draw it. I couldn't decide where the person should hold their bingo dauber so I drew it both ways. 

Also, if you notice my comics looking a little different, I'm experimenting with drawing using a Nomad tablet. We shall see how it goes. I kinda like it but it takes some getting used to. 

Text:
"My 2025 bingo card is full and they're still calling numbers left and right" --@thisone0verhere

Person stressed, holding a bingo card that's covered in red dots

Announcer: B5 I27 I7 O32 G1 N17 I52 B42 ...

Kids Crafts

You finish the setup for one craft and they're asking for another but you still need to do the cleanup for the last and all the prep work for the next. And they just want to add the googly eyes, which is fair. 

Text:
Kids crafts would be so much easier if kids were not involved.
*parent stressing while children use craft supplies with wild abandon*

Happy Star Wars Day

Happy Star Wars Day! "May the Fourth be with you"
Here are some comics from previous years, namely 2017 and 2022. I was experimenting with digital creation in 2017 - using the basic shapes and typing rather than just free-handing it all. Fun fact: my SW comics are a mix of Star Wars and Snow White ones - I should really name them differently to keep them distinct. 

https://comics.comicaltruestory.com/2017/03/heavysabers.html

https://comics.comicaltruestory.com/2017/04/lifesavers-vs-lightsabers.html

https://comics.comicaltruestory.com/2022/09/grievous-mistake.html

One Small Step for Man

 

I do pay attention to the sermon, but I also doodle. You should listen to the sermon - it's on SermonAudio under Pastor Sung Cho at Faith Bible Church.

Explanation: Some astronauts can take a personal item with them to space (Captain Chris Hadfield brought his guitar and recorded "Space Oddity" on the ISS) so I figured an astronaut could take a dinosaur footprint maker and leave some amazing footprints on whatever surface they explore. 

Text:
Inset image of dinosaur tracks next to astronaut footprints.
A1: I thought your personal item was odd, but it's genius!
A2: *holding a stick with a dinosaur footprint on the base end*

Gnaming a Gnome

 

Alternate ending: 

Sometimes I come up with more than one way to do a comic and I can't pick which version I like better so here are both and you can decide. This set has a bit of Shakespeare in it. 

Explanation: "Gnome" and "Romeo" can be combined to make "Gnomeo" which is the name of a gnome in a cartoon version of Romeo and Juliet. Paris is the name of a character in Romeo and Juliet (he's supposed to marry Juliet). Fun fact: I learned about Paris from Twilight rather than R&J, which shows you can learn things from unexpected sources. 

Text:
A: Why did you name your gnome Paris?
L: "Gnomeo" seemed too on the gnose.
A: What's in a gname, anyway?
Alternate ending:
A: It's an excellent gname.

My gnome, Paris.

Recipe Options

 

Happy Birthday to my Robin! She likes looking at recipe videos on my phone and deciding if we can make it or not. The latest one we made is dandelion flatbread and it was quite tasty! The recipe in this comic was some fluffy dessert with all sorts of dairy in it - I have finally come to realize that with lactose intolerance, if I want to make a recipe then I only want to be subbing out one, max two ingredients for non-dairy versions. Otherwise, brace for failure. 

Text:
*Looking at recipe videos on my phone*
R: We can make that!
L: We cannot because that is all dairy, and Mom can't eat lactose.
R: We can make it, and I'll eat it.

Riddle Up

 

Again with the riddles :) So I like to jokingly bemoan how the cumulative numbers keep increasing on any statistic that the media is tracking. That's how cumulative numbers work - they can only go up or level off. Your age is a cumulative number so my partial answer could be correct. 

Text:
M: What goes up but never down?
L: Cumulative -
M: Your age.
L: Yep, that.

Riddle Down

 

My husband was reading kid riddles to me and I was answering them in unexpected ways. Fun all around. My kids were confused but they are preschool/toddler aged so that's a bit young for word plays. 

Text:
M: What goes down but never up?
L: My mood.
M: ... Rain.

None Good

 

Happy Easter! He is risen, just as He said. 

This comic is a true story showing how Ori will emphatically answer questions with "yes" or "no" without regard to what has been asked. 

Explanation: The Bible says there is none good, no not one. Therefore, Ori is correct to say he is not good. The second comic references total depravity, which is a doctrine much contested (but the author believes all are born sinful and can only be redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross). 

Text:
L: Are ya good?
O: No!
M: He is theologically sound.

L: Are you utterly depraved?
O: No!
M: He needs a hermeneutics refresher.